Pulling tool



May 29, 1945. R. R. LAWRENCE PULLING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21mm" ALL};14.0 m

Filed Jan. 9, 1945 aaaaa aaaaaaaaa Il /ll! ll F4 .41 I:

Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULLING TOOL RichardR. Lawrence, Liberty, Tex.

Application January 9, 1945, Serial No. 572,012

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a pulling tool and has particular relation toa tool which has been designed to be hydraulically operated. I

An object of the invention is to provide a pulling tool of the characterdescribed specially designed for pulling stuck pipe or other stuck.

ated by liquid under pressure in the cylinders to exert a pull on thegrapple and on the stuck object to dislodge the latter whereby it can beremoved from the well bore.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel 1 features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1, 2 and3 -show vertical sectional views of the upper, intermediate and lowerends respectively of the tool shown in inactive position and shownlocated in the well casing which is shown also in section.

Figures 4 and 5 show upper and intermediate sections of the tool inactive position and shown in vertical section as located in the wellcasing which is also shown in section, and

Figure 6 shows a side elevation of the puller, partly in section, and inactive position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreferencedesignate similar parts in each of the figures, the numerals I,2 and 3 designate upper, intermediate and lower cylinders. Only three ofsaid cylinders are shown, although any selected number may be employed.The cylinders are connected by inside couplings 4 containing stuffingboxes 4a.

Screwed into the upper end of the upper cylinder I there is a head 5containing a stufllng box 6 and screwed into the lower end of the lowercylinder 3 there is a jaw expander 1 containing a stuffing box 8. Theouter surface of the expander I tapers downwardly and inwardly.

An operating string of tubing 9 extends from the ground surface downthrough the stumng boxes 6, 4a and 8 and connected to its lowerrespective cylinders, are the upper and lower pistons 13, I20, l3b whichare provided with the external, annular upwardly and downwardly opening.cup rings l4, l4, l5, l5 and lid, 15a. The operating string of pipe hasthe upper and lower outlet ports I 8, lGa, lib immediately beneath therespective pistons.

The upper cylinder I is somewhat longer than the cylinders beneath andinterposed between the head 5 and the upper piston I 3. There is astrong coil spring I 8 which normally holds the pistons at the lowerends of their respective cylinders.

The upper ends of the cylinders have the outlet ports ll, liland20.

Secured onto the operating string and beneath the jaw expander I thereis a ring or flange 2|.

The numeral 22 designates slip jaws whose inner sides are tapered tocorrespond to the external taper of the expander I and whose outer sidesare toothed to engage the well casing 23. These slip jaws are attachedto the upper ends of the flexible arm 24 and the lower ends of thesearms are formed integrally with an annular anchor 25 which closelysurrounds the operating string 9 beneath the ring 2 I.

A strong coil spring 26 is interposed between a the coupling [2 and theanchor 25 and surrounds the operating string 9.

The tool may be assembled and lowered into the well as indicated inFigures 1, 2 and 3 and the grappling tool l0 may be engaged with thestuck object as indicated in Figure 6. While being so lowered the spring3 will hold the respective pistons at the lower ends of the cylinders.An operating liquid, under pressure, may then be forced down through theoperating string 9 and through the ports l6, Mia and [6b and thepressure fluid in the cylinder beneath the pistons will operate againstthe upper ends of the couplings 4 and against the upper end of the ex-.pander 1 to move the cylinders downwardly forcing the expander I betweenthe jaws 22, said jaws being, meanwhile, held elevated by the spring 28.The jaws will thus be expanded into engagement with the well casing, asshown in Figures 5 and 6. An increase of pressure beneath the pistonswill now cause said pistons to move upwardly causing a correspondingupward movement of the operating string 8, the grapple l0 and the stuckobject engaged by said grapple. The liquid in the cylinders above thepistons may escape out through the cylinder ports ll, l8 and 20. Thepistons have a relatively large area against which the pressure fluidmay operate and inasmuch as the cylinders are anchored by the slip jaws22 against downward movement this pressure will exert a tremendousupward pull so that in most cases the stuck object will be readilydislodged so that it can be pulled out.

The power of the puller may be multiplied by increasing the number ofcylinders and pistons and in the event the stuck object cannot be pulledwith the tool having a given number of cylinders and pistons additionalcylinders and pistons may be added in accordance with the requirementsof the situation.

While the tool is in pulling position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, thespring 28 will be under compression and will operate to hold the slipJaws 22 in close engagement with the well casing; but while beinglowered into the well the flange 2| will engage the anchor 25, as shownin Figure 2,

and will hold the slips in their inactive position to prevent theirpremature engagement with the casing 23.

If it should be desired to release the tool and withdraw it the pressuremay be reversed, that is, liquid under pressure may be forced by thepump, down through the casing and into the cylinders above the pistonsthrough the ports IT, IS and 20. This will cause relative upwardmovement of the cylinders thus releasing the slip expander I from theslip jaws and permitting them to disengage the casing. If the stuckobject has been loosened it may be then pulled out with the puller butif it could not bedislodged the grapple It may be released from thestuck object and the puller withdrawn from the well.

The grapple It! may be provided with a channel 21 leading therethroughfrom end to end so that when the tool is lowered into the well theoperator can, at any time desired by him, establish circulation throughthe bore of the well by forcing drilling liquid downwardly through thetubing 9 and through the channel 21 which will return up to the groundsurface through the well casing 23' and around the tool.

What I claim is:

1. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string having an outlet port, a cylinder mounted tomove longitudinally on the string and whose lower end is closed, apiston in th cylinder fixed on the string above the port, a grapple onthe string beneath the cylinder and means for anchoring the cylinder tothe walls of the well whereby the grapple will be moved upwardly uponapplication of fluid under pressure into the cylinder.

2. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string, a cylinder thereon whose lower end is closed,a piston fixed on the string and located in the cylinder, a grapple onthe string beneath the cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder to thewall of the well bore, said string having an outlet port into thecylinder whereby fluid under pressure may be forced downwardly throughthe string into the cylinder to move the piston, string and grappleupwardly.

3. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string, a cylinder thereon whose lower end is closed,a piston fixed on the string and located in the cylinder, a grapple onthe string beneath the cylindenmeans for anchoring the cylinder to thewall of the well bore, said string having an outlet port into thecylinder whereby fluid under' pressure may be forced downwardly throughthe string into the cylinder to move the piston, string and grappleupwardly and a yieldable member normally holding the piston in its lowerposition in the cylinder.

4. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string. a cylinder thereon whose lower end is closed,a piston fixed on the string and located in the cylinder, a grapple onthe string beneath the cylinder, means for anchoring the cylinder to thewall of the well bore, said string having an outlet port into thecylinder whereby fluid under pressure may be forced downwardly throughthe string into the cylinder to move the piston, string and grappleupwardly, said cylinder having an outlet port at its upper end for theexhaust of liquid therefrom as the piston moves upwardly.

5. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string. a plurality of aligned cylinders thereon whoselower ends are closed, pistons fixed on the string and located in therespective cylinders, a grapple on the lower end of the string beneaththe cylinders, means for anchoring the cylinders to the wall of the wellbore, said string having outlet ports leading into the cylinders for theadmiss on oi fluid under pressure from the string into the cylinders toelevate the pistons, string and grapple.

6. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string, a plurality of aligned cylinders thereon whoselower ends are closed, pistons fixed on the string and located in therespective cylinders, a grapple on the lower end of the string beneaththe cylinders, means for anchoring the cylinders to the wall of the wellbore, said string having outlet port leading into the cylinders for theadmission of fluid under pressure from the string into the cylinders toelevate the pistons, string and grapple, said cylinders having outletports above the pistons.

7. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string, a plurality of aligned cylinders thereon whoselower ends are closed, said string extending axially through thecylinders and sealed with the lower ends thereof, pistons fixed on thestring and located in the respective cylinders, a grapple on the stringbeneath the cylinders, means for anchoring the cylinders to the wall ofthe. well here, said string having outlet ports into the cylindersbeneath the pistons whereby an operating fluid under pressure may beadmitted into the cylinders to elevate the pistons, said cylindershaving relief ports above the pistons.

8. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, atubular operating string,

a cylinder thereon whose lower end is closed and provided with adepending jaw expander, a piston fixed on the string and located in thecylinder, 9. grapple on the string beneath the cylinder, yieldable meansfor holding the piston and string in lower position relative to thecylinder, slip J'aws around the expander, means on'the string forholding said jaws in the lower position relative to the expander. saidstring having an outlet port into the cylinder for the admission offluid under pressure from the string into the cylinder whereby thepiston, string and grapple will be moved upwardly relative to the cylnder and a yieldable member for moving said slip jaws upwardly, uponupward movement of the string, whereby the jaws will be expanded, bysaid expander, into engagement with the walls of the well bore to anchorthe cylinder against down-

